Le Bourget, France Qatar has signed an agreement to purchase four of the last C-17 Globemasters, announced Boeing at the Paris Air Show. That means only one of the airlifts must still be sold before the assembly line closes later this year. “We are very pleased with the C-17s from Boeing and look forward to doubling our fleet to enhance worldwide operations,” said Gen. Ahmed Al-Malki, the deputy commander of the Qatar Emiri Air Force and chair of its airlift committee. Boeing officials said the additional C-17s will be used to support the QEAF’s transport, airdrop, and humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations requirements. Qatar was the first Middle Eastern customer to sign on to the C-17 program, receiving its first two in 2009 and two more in 2012.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.